"One Nation Under God Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for All!"

Greetings, Saints!

On the eve of the 2008 Presidential election in the United States, I put forth the following for your consideration.

"One Nation under God Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for All" Understanding the Times in which We Live by Olivia M. McDonald, National Day of Prayer, Tidewater, VA

In many respects, this election year serves as a litmus test for the Church. Indeed, it is my contention that the sovereignty of our nation rests squarely upon our right recognition of the God of the Holy Bible as Sovereign of the universe. Without right recognition of Jesus Christ among his professed followers, there is no assurance that Truth or justice will prevail within corridors of power. In the absence of right acknowledgment of the God of Holy Bible, we cease to operate in our right mind as a nation. What emerges on the airways and in the hamlets is empty chatter, as people judge themselves and others by themselves. Some would even like to limit our review of the candidates to the economic landscape—an ownership realm that is suggestive for sure. Please understand this! Any relevance those economic indicators have in the selection process (and we have a bunch) exists only because of God. Remember, it is not humanity but God Himself that grants ability to make wealth.
It is also important to remember that the God of the Bible has given His people a much higher standard by which to judge. We are to date One Nation under the God of the Bible, not because we continue to be a Christian nation. We are not a Christian nation. What we continue to be, however, is a nation with Christian roots that thankfully has God-fearing people inside and out that remain faithfully at their post daily praying for the United States of America to be One Nation under God. It is for those God-fearing people I direct the rest of my comments. Yes, to you who are the God-fearing, I suggest that we continue to use as our criteria the TEN COMMANDMENTS when deciding our vote.

How do the candidates stand up against God's list?

1. I AM the LORD your God, 'You shall have no other gods before Me.'
2. 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.'
3. 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.'
4. 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.'
5. 'Honor your father and your mother.'
6. 'You shall not murder.'
7. 'You shall not commit adultery.'
8. 'You shall not steal.'
9. 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.'
10. 'You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant ,nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.'

Folks, we do not want the ability to be "ONE Nation under God" to change. Let it not happen on our watch! The fate of the nation really is in our hands. If we are to take seriously the admonition to pray for leaders, to recognize that the prayer of God's people ---the righteous , is effectual, then we must recognize that this election is not only about those who are running for office. It is about the condition of the Church.

We are told in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that if a "people called by My Name, humble themselves, pray, and seek my face, and if they turn from their wicked ways, I will heal their land." If we believe our land to be in a position of extreme vulnerability, on the brink of suffering, or is otherwise lost, we must take responsibility and repent. We must get the message of sincere repentance right wherever we are in the church so that the entire nation can continue to benefit from the providential guidance and care only God can bestow. If we do not repent to God, we will have failed to serve watch over our nation.

Here in Virginia, we understand that this week' s election pivots on a select number of key states, Virginia being one of them. You might say that the fate of the nation rests in the hands of places like Virginia, the birthplace of the nation. At the founding of the nation, Virginia was the name given not just for this state but for the entire landmass of the continental United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts. Yes, when settlers landed here they named the entire nation Virginia and dedicated the entire nation to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of the Holy Bible, the God made manifest in the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This fact remains significant. If the electoral direction of the entire nation is in the hands of key states like Virginia, then please understand that the electoral outcome in Virginia rests in the hands of God's people in those key states, especially Virginia.

Virginia! Consider this election as a test of the sincerity of our walk with God. Pray as if the nation's existence depends on it. It does. God determines authority. Promotion is from the LORD. Yes, we know regardless of outcome God can take the person He places in authority and get their attention to rule justly.

However, we must remember, we are people under God's authority. God's Grace does not excuse us from our God -given responsibility to operate in accordance with His Word.

So consider this is a clarion call! As chairperson of the National Day of Prayer Taskforce for Tidewater Virginia, I ask that each of us humble ourselves before God in behalf of our nation especially from now until the final results are announced and even thereafter. The effectual prayer of the righteous avails much!

At such a critical time in our nation's history, WE the Church must not fall asleep at the post. Amen! May those who have ears to hear, hear what Christ Jesus would say to the Church.